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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tauer Perfumes- Noontide Petals (and sample giveaway)

As hard to believe as it is from looking at the piles of snow outside, tomorrow is the first day of spring. There are daffodil stems trying to emerge underneath the icy layers and probably also hyacinths, if the squirrels haven't dug them all up. Tonight I'm ignoring the forecast for more snow on Thursday and focus on all that's light and bright. Like Noontide Petals by Tauer Perfumes.

A new Tauer perfume is a major event in our fragrant community. In Noontide Petals perfumer Andy Tauer has created a link between his nostalgic Tableau de Parfums series and the main Tauer Perfumes line. The reference point is the very early part of the 20th century, more particularly the Roaring 20s. Art Deco aesthetics in visual arts, architecture, and of course-- in perfumery. The 1920s brought us some of the most beautiful and famous perfume classics (Chanel No.5, anyone?), many of them owing their unique formulas to the use of aldehydes that make them sparkle and shine. In his press release for Noontide Petals, Andy Tauer speaks of "turning on the light in a dim room". I'll go a step further and say that the uplifting effect goes beyond the room: it's our mood and spirit that are getting elevated as winter malaise is chased away.

Both Loretta and especially Miriam saw a generous use of aldehydes that infuse the flower absolutes. Noontide Petals takes another step in this direction as it greets us with a big bouquet- first large yellow and red blossoms, then the light filters in brighter and stronger. All of a sudden you find yourself surrounded with lush and heady white flowers that are pure sensuality. They sweep you of your feet.

The dry-down is all luxury and glam. It's darker and heavier than you would guess from the exuberant opening that rushes at you. There's sweetness that keeps the fantasy aspect of Noontide Petals while precious woods ground it and lend the fragrance an incredible elegance out of a fashionable 1920s salon. You can picture yourself going out on a Paris adventure the kind Owen Wilson's character had in Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris. You're already wearing the right perfume for it.

Now for the sweepstakes: I have three extra samples to give away. You need to: a) be a US resident, and b) tell us what's your favorite floral perfume. Do leave a name (you don't need to have an account or list an email address, but a way to easily identify you will make my life slightly easier).
This review was based on an advanced sample Andy Tauer was kind enough to send. Noontide Petals will launch in the US in the second half of April, and will be available in some parts of Europe in late May. Price will be around $125 $US or 95 Euro for 50 ml EDT.

Please enter me in the draw. No perfumista can choose just one (at least without conditional clauses: "In the month of March," "If I am wearing lavender") My current favorite florals are Christian Dior's Grand Bal and YSL Paris.--April

My favorite floral would have to be Nicolai's Odalisque, a wonderful lily of the valley with a touch of dirtiness. I'm so looking forward to Noontide Petals. I love what Andy does with aldehydes. Miriam was a gem.

This sounds so gorgeous and tempting! I loved Miriam and its nod to classic perfumes, and if this one leans that way, that makes me happy. Florals are usually not my favorite perfume genre, since I gravitate to woods, spices and incense, but this time of year I do enjoy spritzing Chamade. Thanks for the draw opportunity! (And I do live in the US.)

I LOVE floral aldehydes and floral greens. They are always on my top priority list and this makes it so difficult to pick just one! If I were forced to do this hard choice out of my most favorites: Chamade, Deneuve and Chanel No 19 (vintage of course), I think Chamade would be the winner.Yulia

Good Morning and thanks for the draw....I am a big Andy fan and hope to try this one as soon as possible. I love most florals, especially rose and jasmine. Among my faves are Lutens A la Nuit and Malle's Une Rose.

There is nothing like a draw for a fabulous sounding perfume to bring us lurkers out of the woodwork! I totally missed the perfumes with women's names he did to celebrate different movies, right? They all sound great to me, including this one, as I have been appreciating florals for the last year or so, but have always loved Vega......not sure if it is in more in the aldehedic vein than a floral..........I particularly like Bruno Acampora's Blu and Aftlier's Parfum Prive............I will be in the US in a couple of weeks so I can qualify for the draw AND be the first commenter due to the time dif! Thanks!

I do live in the US. My favorite floral... a tricky one for me. My wife likes all kinds of florals, from Chelsea Flowers to Rose Chypree. But for myself it's a little harder; does Iris Bleu Gris count as a floral? I like dark roses too, such as Black Aoud and the Ormond Jayne Ta'if Rose (the latter is still on my wish list for a FB).

I am a US resident. It's difficult to pick a favorite floral. My SOTD is Purdistance I which is beauitful, but if I had to pick one big white flower floral I'd select Michael by Michael Kors. SL's Un Lys would be be second. I am very eager to try Noontide Petals, while reading your review I was imaginng several scenes from Midnight in Paris (even before I read the end of the review)!!!

I'm so happy that Andy has a new scent! Thanks for the chance to try it. :)My favorite florals are from SSS- Voile de Violette, Velvet Roses, Rose Musc. I'm on a real rose kick after my patchouli fest this winter.

Excited to hear about this one and I do live in the U.S. Favorite floral fragrances include Silences, Jessica McClintock, Chamade, and many in the sample set from SSS. Thanks, Tamara, for the reminder. I have a new appreciation for rose scents. Thanks!

Forced to choose and rank and break my own tie - the first runner-up is FM's "Lys Mediterranee" but the winner (by a nostril) is Parfums DelRae "Amoureuse," which surprises even me b/c it's more feminine than I'm generally comfortable with. Still, it's intoxicating.

I am in the USMy favorite floral perfume is Frangipani by OJ. It is my golden lover and I often come back to it in the Spring and it just makes me happy. I think Grand Bal would be in close second place

My favorite floral is Chanel 22. My second favorite is also Chanel 22. In fact, it's pretty much my answer for any 'favorite floral' question. I would love to have another favorite floral, and I have high hopes for Noontide Petals! And I live in the US.

I'm so happy that Andy Tauer has a new release. He's an amazing perfumer! My favorite florals are white ones and among those I'd say it's a three-way split: Carnal Flower; Beyond Love; and Tubereuse Criminelle. I kind of like tuberose, I guess....

just realized i didn't answer b.) my favorite floral perfume. let's just say farouche by nina ricci. i love so many florals it's difficult to pick just one. farouche has everything i love in a perfume.

I have way too many favorite florals! If I must choose, I guess it would have to be Joy (rather than AG Rose Absolue because it can be categorized a soliflore). The laundry list of follow-ups would begin at Apres l'Ondee, Chanel 22, Chants d'Aromes, and go on, and on, and on...I live in the US, and would love a chance to try this!

Hi! Nobody does florals like Annick Goutal, and Quel Amour! is so beautiful. The smell is peony, which I love love love. I don't wear florals all year long, but this one is so precious to me that I find myself hoarding it. Thanks for the opportunity to win Noontide Petals sample, and BTW, your blog has completely opened my world. And as Sammy Davis, Jr. would say, "And I mean that, babe." :-) ~Christina in Austin

Oh Noontide Petals sounds lovely! So many beautiful florals to choose from (and florals aren't even really my thing), but for today I would have to say Fracas because it's my wedding day perfume and also because I happen to be wearing it today. Thank you!! Summer H.

I have yet to sniff a single Andy Tauer! Hmmm... today I am wearing Annick Goutal's Quel Amour... Hard to say if it is my favorite floral, but it cheered me up while waiting in several long lines... I was holding a pile of files in stuffy rooms but the Quel Amour transported me up up and away... Ann

Hi I'd love to be entered in the drawing.Thanks! Favorite floral..Ummmm...one of them is Ralph Lauren Safari,I have MANY MANY fragrant loves though so it's reallllllly hard to say the absolute top favorite.I live in the US . Jennifer Smith/bookwyrmsmith